Lusaka City Council (LCC) says it has intensified COVID-19 compliance monitoring of public places following observations that many people and public premises have stopped following public health guidelines.
Council Public Relations Manager George Sichimba told Money FM News that the local authority under the department of public health inspected 498 public places in all the seven constituencies from 13th to 19th July, 2020, out of which 225 places were found not complying with public health guidelines resulting in 16 being closed and 209 being warned.
Mr. Sichimba said during the same period, 43 international trucks and 8 public places were disinfected.
He disclosed that night operations were also conducted in conjunction with Zambia Police in which six premises which include Restaurants and Liquor Stores were found violating public health guidelines by not observing physical distancing and operating as bars contrary to the Presidential directives.
“And during the weekend of 18th and 19th July, 2020, public health inspectors conducted church compliance monitoring with 32 churches being monitored. Out of 32 churches monitored, 13 were satisfactory, 18 were not satisfactory and were warned while one church service was suspended.”
“The church whose service was suspended had not provided hand washing facilities or sanitizers, congregants were not observing physical distancing, not wearing face masks and the church building was not properly ventilated,” Mr. Sichimba said.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sichimba disclosed that from the time COVID-19 prevention guidelines were put in place, the Council has inspected 4,438 public places, out of which 2,445 were satisfactory, while 1, 754 were warned and 239 were closed.
He appealed to Lusaka residents and visitors alike not to tire up on COVID-19 prevention measures because the disease is not a hoax.

“The local authority is appealing to residents of Lusaka and visitors alike not to tire up on COVID-19 prevention measures because the disease is still very much around.”
“The public should also ignore people who are peddling lies that COVID-19 is a hoax instead follow what authorized officials are advising them,” he said.